A WELLINGTON CASE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2189, 13 May 1908, Page 2

A WELLINGTON CASE.

BOY BITTEN BY DOG. PLAINTIFF AWARDED £2O. Press Association. WELLINGTON, May 12. Tho sum of fifty pounds damages tor the bite of a dog was claimed by Harry White, a boy of ten, from Robert William Paterson, hotelkeeper, this morning, and the case was heard by Dr. McArthur. The boy, who appeared rather delicate, stated that on tho 4th of April lie was going round on a milk-cart, when the milkman called at Mr. Pat--5, 1 ' son ’s house * the boy went "in with the milk, and in the passage lie saw a dog, a bull terrier, lying oil the mat, and tho dog knocked him agamst the wall, afterwards seizing lnm by the hip and hanging on until Mr. L aterson came to tho rescue. Mrs, i aterson attended to the boy, and alter the doctor had treated him lie was sent away with a sovereign by Mr. Paterson.

lienry V lute, the boy’s father, declared that lie had told Air. Paterson,. that if ho would destroy the dog there would ;bc no further trouble, but Mr Paterson refused.

JJ , r , ; 9. racr<>it Wlls ou submitted on behalf oi Mr. Paterson that the dog was far too valuable to bo destroyed, being worth at least £2O Robert Wm. Paterson stated that it was the noise made by tho can as tho boy was returning, that made tho dog spring at him. Witness gave tlie boy a. sovereign, telling him that it was something to buy lollies with. The dog was not ferocious at all, and bis little boy, five years old, used to play with it like a kitten. Tho boy would take a niece of meat out of tho dog’s mouth. Mr. Hordmau: A discriminating dog. He took a piece of meat out of tho other boy’s mouth.

His Worship said that if a person had a dog like the one in question, he.must accept his responsibilities. Judgment would be for the plaintiff for £2O and costs £l4 16s.